Servius Tullius When a Child, Asleep in the Apartment of King Tarquinius Priscus
Angelica Kauffmann, ca. 1785
About this artwork
In this evocative drawing from around 1785, Angelica Kauffmann captures a pivotal moment from Roman legend: the young Servius Tullius, king of Rome, asleep the palace of King Tarquiniusiscus. According to ancient sources like Livy, a flame miraculously appeared above the sleeping child's head, signaling his divine destiny without harming him. Kauffmann, a leading Neoclassical artist and one of the first women elected to London's Royal Academy, masterfully conveys the scene's quiet drama, blending historical narrative with emotional tenderness. Executed on blue prepared paper—a favored 18th-century technique for luminous effects—Kauffmann employs pen and brown ink for precise outlines, brush and gray ink for subtle shading, and white chalk highlights to illuminate the child's serene face and the ethereal flame. This mixed-media approach showcases her skill in preparatory studies, often precursors to grand history paintings that celebrated classical virtues. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work exemplifies Kauffmann's role in elevating women's contributions to Neoclassicism, inviting viewers to ponder how ancient myths inspired Enlightenment-era art and the enduring allure of Rome's founding tales.